Thursday morning news bullets

Yesterday ended up being a pretty big news day, especially for these times of social distancing when there's not a whole lot going on. In case you missed anything that went down over the past 24 hours, I've got you covered here: 

Hall of Fame Induction Weekend postponed

One of the best weekends of the baseball calendar has been canceled this year. The Baseball Hall of Fame's Board of Directors made the decision to cancel the 2020 induction weekend yesterday. 

“Induction Weekend is a celebration of our National Pastime and its greatest legends, and while we are disappointed to cancel this incredibly special event, the Board of Directors’ overriding concern is the health and well-being of our new inductees, our Hall of Fame members, our wonderful fans and the hundreds of staff it takes to present the weekend’s events in all of its many facets,” Jane Forbes Clark, Chairman of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, said in a statement. “We care deeply about every single person who visits Cooperstown.”

The 2020 inductees, Derek Jeter and Larry Walker, will be celebrated in 2021 with any additional 2021 inductees.

Manny Ramirez wants to return to baseball

The 47-year-old former big leaguer announced in an interview with the Taiwan Times that he hopes to find a roster spot with a CPBL team in 2020. Ramirez played in the CPBL for the Fubon Guardians in 2013 when they were known as the EDA Rhinos. 

The two-time World Series champion finished his MLB career in 2011 with 555 home runs, but has not garnered many votes in Hall of Fame balloting. 

Multiple summer leagues announce delays

With the future of the COVID-19 pandemic unknown, multiple collegiate summer leagues decided to push back their Opening Days, releasing statements yesterday. The Coastal Plain League on the East Coast and the Prospect League in the Midwest have each announced that they will start their seasons on July 1st. 

Four summer leagues, including the Valley Baseball League and Cape Cod Baseball League, have already canceled their entire 2020 seasons. 

Rumors swirl about MiLB cancellation

Rumors floated around the internet on Wednesday evening that Major League Baseball had decided to cancel the 2020 Minor League Baseball season. This led to multiple credible reporters debunking the rumors, and eventually MiLB itself issued a statement saying that the 2020 season has not been canceled. 

□ pic.twitter.com/nVVqulC9Mq

— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) April 29, 2020

While it's good news that the season has not been canceled, the last sentence there isn't so comforting. We're still a long way from getting baseball back into our lives. 

MLB officials "near certain" baseball will happen in 2020

According to Charles Gasparino of Fox Business, MLB officials are feeling pretty confident that baseball will happen in 2020.

BREAKING: Senior @MLB officials tell @FoxBusiness they are near certain there will be major league baseball in 2020 even if the details of the game are still being debated. League closely watching @NYGovCuomo for timing on reopening of NYC and games for @Mets @Yankees more now

— Charles Gasparino (@CGasparino) April 29, 2020

While the details are not laid out completely yet and there have been multiple plans as to how exactly baseball will be played, this is a bit of good news amidst the negativity that surrounds us these days.